Pointer and non-pointer array strcture in C
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
/**
* Array structure
*/
typedef struct Array
{
int *values;
size_t size;
} Array;
/**
* Pointer array function prototypes
*/
Array *new_array_ptr(size_t n);
void fill_array_ptr(Array *arr);
/**
* Non-pointer array function prototypes
*/
Array new_array(size_t n);
void fill_array(Array arr);
void free_array(Array arr);
/**
* Main function
*/
int main(void)
{
/**
* Array of integers
*/
int arr[] = {};
/**
* Pointer array
*/
Array *array = new_array_ptr(10);
fill_array_ptr(array);
if (array)
{
for (int i = 0; i < array->size; i++)
{
printf("%d ", array->values[i]);
}
free(array);
}
// Print a new line
printf("\n");
/**
* Non-pointer array
*/
Array array2 = new_array(10);
fill_array(array2);
for (int i = 0; i < array2.size; i++)
{
printf("%d ", array2.values[i]);
}
free_array(array2);
/**
* Which one is better and safer?
*
* The non-pointer array is better and safer because it is
* easier to use and it is less likely to cause memory leaks.
*
* The pointer array is more flexible and can be used to
* create dynamic arrays.
*
* Although, freeing memory for the pointer array is much easier
* and is less likely to forget when to actually free the memory.
*
*/
// Return the main fucntion
return 0;
}
/**
* Initialize a new array pointer type
*/
Array *new_array_ptr(size_t n)
{
Array *new_arr = malloc(sizeof(Array));
if (new_arr)
{
new_arr->size = n;
new_arr->values = malloc(n * sizeof(int));
}
return new_arr;
}
/**
* Fill array with numbers from 1 to n
*/
void fill_array_ptr(Array *array)
{
if (array)
{
for (int i = 0; i < array->size; i++)
{
array->values[i] = i + 1;
}
}
}
/**
* Create a new non-ptr array
*/
Array new_array(size_t n)
{
Array new_arr;
new_arr.size = n;
new_arr.values = malloc(n * sizeof(int));
return new_arr;
}
/**
* Fill array with numbers from 1 to n
*/
void fill_array(Array array)
{
for (int i = 0; i < array.size; i++)
{
array.values[i] = i + 1;
}
}
/**
* Free the array
*/
void free_array(Array array)
{
free(array.values);
}
MIT License
Copyright (c) 2023 Simpson Computer Technologies Research
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